In 2011 alone, Nail co-wrote a song that spent 48 weeks climbing the Billboard chart, sang “God Bless America” at the World Series and toured with country superstars Taylor Swift and Lady Antebellum.

Chances are you’ve heard Nail’s No. 1 hit single, “Let it Rain,” his third single to hit the top-40 country charts. It’s a quintessential break-up song. “Let it Rain” is a song that not only appeals to country music fans, but music fans in general. Its theme is universal, painting a vivid picture of a breakup:

Now me and my pile of things That she threw out the window Drowning next to me So let it rain, let it pour, she don’t love me anymore Let it come down on me Every word, let it hurt, even more than I deserve

If you have no valentine, or you recently lost yours, don’t wallow in self-pity, come out to The Grad and hear Nail belt out this tune with his full back-up band. It will be a cathartic experience.

The Missouri-born Nail has the potential to reach much more than just a country audience. He counts Lionel Richie, Ray Charles, Glen Campbell, Stevie Wonder, Elton John and the Beatles as influences, and it shows in his sound.

“Let it Rain” even hit the non-country Billboard chart. Much like recent Grammy Award-winning Lady Antebellum, Nail has a pop sensibility that has crossover appeal.

And he’s just the beginning of a stellar lineup at The Davis Graduate.

“We have some really great shows coming up,” president Charlie Swanson said. “Danny Ramos, The Grad’s general manager, has done an amazing job of bringing national acts to Davis.”

“These are all nationally recognized acts signed to major label contracts,” Swanson said. “Bringing acts of this caliber can be financially risky but we want to take the chance in order to bring the very best to Davis.

“We have a summer lineup that we are still awaiting confirmation on.”

Swanson stressed how fortunate the Davis audience is to catch these shows.

“We are featuring acts that fans have a very limited opportunity to see in a 500-person venue. Ten years from now, people are not going to believe they had the chance to see this talent in Davis.”

Swanson expects big turnouts at the upcoming concerts, and don’t worry if you failed to plan ahead. Swanson saves 100 tickets for the day of the show so folks can have a chance of getting in.

Booking national acts has created a customer base for The Davis Graduate that’s regional, not just local, he said.

“We have regulars from Napa to Folsom, Grass Valley and Rocklin,” he said. “When we book a national act, it is the only time they are playing in the area. We are the Sacramento Valley’s only chance to see these headliners.”

Will The Grad feature national acts outside the country genre?

“We are focused on country right now because of the success we have had with past events,” Swanson explained. “But most of these artists have huge crossover hits.”